Laguna Campground
468-470 Los Huecos Rd, Mt Laguna, CA 91948
Overview
One hour east of San Diego, Laguna Campground is located in the Cleveland National Forest's Mount Laguna region. Nestled in a lush forest surrounded by pine and oak trees, the Saturday night Star Parties hosted by the San Diego State University Observatory is an excellent summer activity.
Elevated at 6,000 feet, this campground remains cool even in summer, and you can hike the Laguna Meadow Trail or access parts of the Pacific Crest Trail.
Laguna Campground has 108 campsites spread out across five loops that are closely spaced. Almost every site can accommodate RVs, trailers, and tents.
Sites #2, 3, and 5, are habitats for an endangered Laguna Skipper butterfly species, and visitors are limited to two per site. There are four tent-only campsites.
There are campfire rings, flush toilet facilities, and coin-operated showers at the campground. Laguna Campground doesn’t offer any hookups but the nearby Buckman Rest Area on the I-8 has a dump station.
Dogs must be kept on a leash and must always be supervised. The maximum length allowed for an RV or trailer is 40 feet. The maximum number of individuals allowed per site is 8 but only 2 people are allowed for sites 2,3 and 5.
Best Campsites at Laguna Campground
Below are Power Camper’s recommended sites if you want to have the best experience at Laguna Campground.
Site 43
- More private
- Located away from the main road
- Accessible to the water, restroom, and showers.
Sites 57, 58, and 61
- Private
- Adjacent to the nicer restrooms and showers
- The meadow is visible from these campsites
- Near the popular trailheads
Sites 87 to 92
- Offers yurt camping
Unique Experiences
- Go for a hike! With 460,000 acres, there will be a hiking trail for you, whether you're a novice or a seasoned pro, with so many choices. Summer hikes in chaparral can be hot, so go during the cooler months.
- Attend Star Parties at Laguna Mountain and Palomar Mountain hosted by the San Diego State University Observatory.
- Go off-roading in the Cleveland National Forest. You have OHV camping options with the Wildomar OHV Area, as well as open area riding opportunities with the Corral Canyon OHV Trails. So get out there and explore - the world is your playground!
- Go horse riding on any forest road. In the spring and early summer, there is a little lake a short distance from the campground where you can take cool photos at.
- Hike parts of the Pacific Crest Trail, the iconic 2,650-mile trail that runs from Mexico to Canada through California, Oregon, and Washington.
- Go mountain biking on the numerous trails scattered around the Cleveland National Forest and explore the mountain ranges of Santa Ana, Cuyamaca, and Palomar. Don’t miss the Santiago Trail!
- Go snow-shoeing during winter at Mount Laguna and enjoy one of the uncommon snow-covered regions of San Diego. At 6,000 feet above sea level, this Mount Laguna receives the most snowfall in San Diego.
Laguna Campground Campground Rules
Max Trailer/RV Length
40 FeetMax People per Site
8Max Vehicles per Site
2 (3rd for $8)Fires allowed?
Only in designated fire ringsPets allowed?
YesLaguna Campground Reservation Information
Reservations Allowed?
Reservations Required?
YesIndividual site reservations at Laguna Campground are accepted on a 6-month rolling basis. The reservation fee is $29 per night. Changes to your reservation should be made as much in advance as feasible. Before your arrival date, you can make modifications to your reservation. Reservations can be made by calling 1-877-444-6777 (International 518-885-3639 or TDD 877-833-6777) or online at <http://www.recreation.gov>.
Group Camping Reservations
Group camping is not available at Laguna Campground but most sites allow up to 8 people so you can book multiple adjacent sites.
Campsite Reservation Cancellations
You may cancel your reservation at any point before your intended arrival date. A $10 cancellation charge applies. You can also change the dates of your reservation. There is a $10 adjustment charge if your new visiting dates are completely different from your original stay dates (per reserved site).
Laguna Campground Campground Cost
Standard Campsite
$29Activities
Hiking
Bike Trails
Horseback Riding
Photography
Backpacking
Amenities
RV/Trailers
Hookups
Pull Through Spots
Pet Friendly
ADA Sites
Showers
Cell Service
Picnic Tables
Amphitheater
Campground Host
Campfire Rings
Grills
Directions
FAQs
Nearby Campgrounds to Laguna Campground
Burnt Rancheria Campground
The nearby Burnt Rancheria is also located in the Laguna Mountain Recreation Area. Like Laguna Campground, Burnt Rancheria Campground does not provide hookups. Nonetheless, similar to the other campgrounds, there are hot showers, flush toilets, campfire rings, and picnic tables.
However, the sites in Burnt Rancheria can only accommodate RVs and trailers up to 30 feet, compared to the 40 feet maximum in Laguna.
South Carlsbad State Beach
Located on the beach, the South Carlsbad campground would suit beach lovers while Laguna is located in a forest surrounded by pine and oak trees. South Carlsbad is also significantly larger with 215 sites compared to the 108 sites of Laguna.
In addition, South Carlsbad Campground offers full hookups and a dump station while Laguna has none. South Carlsbad also has laundry, propane, and WiFi (near the office), whereas Laguna does not.
Carpinteria State Beach
The Carpinteria State Beach Campground has 191 family campsites which is far more than the 108 campsites at Laguna Campground. Some campsites at Carpenteria have hookups whereas Laguna Campground offers none.
Carpinteria State Beach features seven group camping areas that accommodate more campers and vehicles compared to no group campsites at Laguna. More for beach lovers than stargazers and hikers, Carpinteria State Beach’s campground would be more suited to kayakers, surfers, and beachcombers.
Observatory Campground
The Observatory Campground is a smaller one with only 43 campsites available as compared to Laguna Campground’s 108 campsites. Most of the sites at Observatory Campground are standard campsites, but they also have six double sites.
There are also no hook-ups available at Observatory Campground and their sites cost $15 which is relatively cheaper than the $29 fee for Laguna.
The maximum length of vehicle allowed at Observatory is 32 feet, while Laguna can accommodate larger vehicles of up to 40 feet.
